Rumors of the possibility of depravity within the Borgia family spread. Lucrezia, possibly because of her youth and beauty, was singled out. The stories about their supposed sexual antics soon spiraled into tales of their other illicit actions – it was suggested, for instance, that they poisoned their enemies. I mean, this is certainly true. They did. But it was also suggested that Lucrezia had a hand in this.

Literally. People claimed that Lucrezia had her own special poison recipes, and that she carried around poison in a hollow ring. In some accounts the ring is said to have a needle in it which she could use to stab people. Just like a James Bond villain!

But more practical!

It’s a particularly horrifying idea because it means you’d be stabbed when she was stroking you, or patting your back, or hugging you, or otherwise engaging in acts that would be considered affectionate. Again, this could have been tied to the idea that Lucrezia was so seductive that members of her own family couldn’t resist her (and this was blamed on her, because being a woman at the dawn of the 16th century was a nightmare).

These rumors didn’t help Giovanni’s case. His own family pressured him to agree to the Pope’s proposal and annul the marriage, saying that they would withdraw their protection if he didn’t. Giovanni finally, reluctantly, agreed to.

He finally pleaded impotence, saying that the marriage had never been consummated. Given that Giovanni had supposedly fathered several illegitimate children, andas he pointed out, his former wife died in childbirth,Â this seems unlikely. It seems even more unlikely when you consider thatÂ Pope Alexander reportedly followed Lucrezia and Giovanni into the bedroom on the night of their nuptials to insure they consummated the marriage.

“Lucrezia wasnâ€™t enthusiastic, but Alfonso did seem like her had a pretty good personality.”

Sorry to be that guy, but there’s errors like this all over the post and it’s super distracting. Not to mention really confusing in some spots.

Jennifer Wright

It is so great that you are volunteering to be a copyeditor! Let me know how you want to work that. The position is unpaid.

Maggie

Editing fail.

Lerie

“there are errors like this”, not “there’s” which would mean there “is” which is incorrect. Since we’re pointing out mistakes and all.

Lii

Anna Wintour would definitely have been more interesting. I love this series, but this has been the least interesting of them all. Thank goodness it was saved by your wit, anecdotes, and parrot pictures.
and just to throw it out there, I’m still hoping for a second round on la Casati…

endn

hey I liked it! Yes there were less murders and insanity but lucrezia’s definitely an interesting character. I’m going to go read up on what the people thought of her and italian politics. yay!

Cee

I think you may have hit on something Jennifer! If there are sites paying for editing, they can just rely on their trusty comments to correct this for free!

I just think it sucks that instead of sparking some sort of discussion or having some interesting opinion, that these people reduce the article to how many errors they find. It’s nice to have them pointed out every now and then but after a while..either have a better contribution or go become a professor!

By the way I’m sure many people have told you this but you should really write a Shelved Dolls book!

Jennifer Wright

I do wish we had a copyeditor. For the record, my own errors make me sad and frustrated and tired. They also make me go around the office grinding my teeth and muttering “why can’t we hire a fucking copyeditor?” like a crazy person. Because I ain’t no good at grammar. I ain’t never been no good at it.

Nicole

I love reading about the crazies. Keep ‘em coming!

Rebecca

Cesare likely murdered Alfonso not out of jealousy but more than likely because during that period, family honor was held above all else. Although not from or about the period in question, the story of the horatii triplets is a good illustration. The three horatii brothers fought the three curatii brothers, the fiances and husbands of their sisters. When the eldest sister protested to having her husband slain she was also murdered.

It didn’t really matter how close you were to your sister, as the son of a family in this time it was your family honor that was top priority.

Jennifer Wright

A volunteer copyeditor has been secured! Success!

Jenniwren

Oh I don’t know. The thing is, I keep thinking about Anne Boleyn, who was also accused of incest with her brother like 60 years later, during her divorce from Henry VIII. Historians are now pretty sure she never slept with her brother, but it was just one of several nasty things (witchcraft and treason and adultery, oh my) that the folks at court were saying in an attempt to ruin her reputation. I mean, there was a lot of that around at that time. So I always think that with the Borgias it could have been the same thing. Obviously, they were crooked as a spoon, but they were hardly the only ones (pre-reformation history never being as pure as everyone expects) and they were so very, very powerful; that kind of thing attracts these kind of rumors.

As to the specific Cesare/Lucrezia relationship; well, Cesare was a bit of nutter all over, if you believe half the rumors that circulated about him. He was totally stabby, I don’t think he needed an especially good reason. Although sibling relationships were just more intense back then; noble children didn’t really have many other friends, and the language people used was also more flowery and “romantic” by modern standards. So maybe they were involved; but it’s at least as likely, I think, that they were just very, very close and a bit too dependent on each other.

Kj

Will you do Anna Wintour next? There wasn’t enough palpable evil in this one. Just weird, semi-incestuous (almost Shakespearean!) melodrama.

Courtney

“ensure” not “insure”

Larissa

After the one about the serial killer woman (which was super interesting but I swear gave me nightmares!) it’s nice to see a historical figure who’s not completely and utterly batshit crazy. I liked it! Make sure to follow the really scary lady with this one in the book we all demand you write every week.